Chapter 21 - THE MAN ACROSS THE STREET
I didn't breathe.
The man stood beside the black car, holding the little brown box in one hand.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then Noah stepped closer to the window.
"Mom?"
I immediately pulled the curtain shut.
"Stay away from the window."
His face changed.
"Who is it?"
"I don't know."
That was a lie.
I knew exactly who he was supposed to be.
Arthur Bell.
My grandfather's personal attorney.
The man who had supposedly died seven years ago in a car accident.
The man whose death certificate had been shown to me during the investigation.
The man whose name appeared in the financial documents that had nearly destroyed my family.
And now he was standing across the street.
Alive.
Noah looked at me.
"Is that why Dad called?"
I didn't answer.
My phone rang again.
Julian.
I answered.
"Where are you?"
"Still at the office."
"Did you see him?"
"Yes."
"Don't open the door."
"I wasn't planning to."
Julian's voice became quieter.
"Listen carefully. I found something in the wedding footage."
"What?"
"The man wasn't just standing behind you."
I frowned.
"What else?"
"He was watching Noah."
My blood ran cold.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
A knock came from the front door.
Three slow knocks.
Noah grabbed my hand.
Then another knock.
This time, a man's voice came through the door.
"Mrs. Vance?"
I froze.
"I know you're inside."
Noah whispered:
"Mom..."
The man continued.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
May you like
He paused.
"I'm here because your grandfather left something unfinished."
